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IPL 2025: LSG opt to bowl first against MI in scorching Wankhede

Mumbai, April 27 (IANS) Lucknow Super Giants won the toss and elected to bowl first against Mumbai Indians in Match 45 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Wankhede Stadium here on Sunday.

With the Wankhede pitch expected to help the bowlers in the first innings, it came as no surprise that LSG skipper Rishabh Pant opted to bowl first.

Lucknow Super Giants bring in their express pacer Mayank Yadav in place of Shardul Thakur. Mumbai Indians hand Corbin Bosch a debut, coming for Mitchell Santner, who has a niggle. Karn Sharma also returns to the MI playing XI while Jasprit Bumrah starts on the substitutes bench.

Pant said it is a batting wicket. He said LSG’s 6-1 record against the Mumbai Indians feels good, but he doesn’t want to think about it too much.

Though Hardik Pandya has mostly preferred to field first at the Wankhede, considering the scorching hot and humid conditions for the early afternoon clash, the Mumbai Indians skipper said he did not mind batting first.

“We don’t mind batting. It is just the mindset; it is about hydrating well, and we want to focus on the right things,” he said.

Playing XIs:

Mumbai Indians: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Rohit Sharma, Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (capt), Naman Dhir, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Karn Sharma

Impact substitutes: Jasprit Bumrah, Raj Bawa, Reece Topley, Robin Minz, PSVN Raju

Lucknow Super Giants: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav.

Impact substitutes: David Miller, Yuvraj Choudhary, Shahbaz Ahmed, Himmat Singh, Akash Singh.

–IANS

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Premier League: Fernandes stars as Man Utd beat Wolves to go sixth

Manchester, Dec 9 (IANS) Manchester United made it five away games unbeaten in the Premier League with a comfortable 4-1 win against Wolves.

Ruben Amorim’s side did not initially have it all their own way as Bruno Fernandes’ 25th-minute opener was cancelled out by Jean-Ricner Bellegarde on the stroke of half-time.

But they streaked clear in the second half, with Bryan Mbeumo restoring their advantage on the counter-attack before Fernandes’ sumptuous pass teed up Mason Mount in the 62nd minute.

Fernandes then capped the scoring from the penalty spot with eight minutes remaining after Yerson Mosquera was penalised for handball, as Wolves’ wait for a first win of the campaign continues.

Rob Edwards’ men are already 13 points adrift of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, having made the joint-worst start to a season in Premier League history, while United are one point off the top four.

Despite all the noise, United have now lost just one Premier League game since the end of September and are unbeaten in five away games. They will hope to replicate that form at Old Trafford next Monday, against AFC Bournemouth.

United manager Ruben Amorim said after the win “I think we started the game really well. We scored a goal and we let Wolves a little bit get back into the game. We suffered in the last play of the first half but in the second half we had good pace, good quality in the decisions. We finished the game and Wolves is in one difficult moment.

“We score four but we had a lot of shots. I think we improved a lot if you compare last season and this season we are creating so much more chances and scoring more goals and having more real situations of danger, so I’m really pleased with that.”

–IANS

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Ipswich Town sign winger Jaden Philogene from Aston Villa on 4.5-year deal

Ipswich, Jan 16 (IANS) Ipswich Town have signed Aston Villa winger Jaden Philogene on a four-and-a-half-year deal, the Premier League club said.

The 22-year-old becomes the club’s second addition of the January transfer window, following the arrival of Ben Godfrey on loan from Atalanta.

“I’m excited to be here and I know there are great players in the squad. I just want to play as much as possible. As a player I like to dribble and link up play and provide goals and assists. I’m looking forward to it,” Philogene told the club’s website.

The 22-year-old winger has featured 11 times in the Premier League this season. A product of the Villa youth system, Philogene had loan spells at Stoke City and Cardiff City then joined Hull City permanently in the summer of 2023.

During his time at Hull, Philogene scored 12 goals and registered 6 assists in 32 appearances including an incredible Rabona finish that was later nominated for a Puskas Award.

In July 2024 he returned to Aston Villa and in October he made his Champions League debut, starting against Bayern Munich at Villa Park.

Internationally, the London native has represented England at youth level, including scoring a hat-trick on his U19 debut in 2020, and has featured for the seven times for the U21s.

Philogene further strengthens Ipswich’s attacking options, having added wingers Omari Hutchinson, Jack Clarke, and Chiedozie Ogbene to their ranks in the summer.

Ogbene, however, suffered an Achilles injury in October and is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Ipswich are next in league action against Brighton & Hove Albi

on on Thursday.